The perils of Very Mediocre « A Midwife’s Muse

The perils of Very Mediocre

July 22, 2008 at 8:18 pm | In Rants, Winds me up | 9 Comments

I’m getting really, really angry, wound-up and frustrated with V. In Down Time and other entries I have recounted the problems I have encountered with a certain media company, the latest headache has been their fondness for overcharging, via direct debit, and then not repaying the monies. When I pointed out their error they promised repayment of £120 in March, it never came. They then overcharged again, and then again, the amount they owe is now £160, verbally they promised a cheque, no show. I e-mailed them, in writing they promised the £140 within 7 days, that was 14 days ago. I can just imagine the type of correspondence that I would be in receipt of if I was 4 months late in paying them. The problem is that I am so wound up now that I just want to yell at someone, it is like trying to fight smoke though. They have stolen money from me. Initially it may have been an error, they have acknowledged their error. they have assured me that my money will be returned to me, they have not done it. There is probably some legal term for this, some type of fraud perhaps, little old me just regards it as theft.

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I really do sympathise! Email them saying that you’re sending copies to your MP, MEP, local and nationl papers, the BBC, the police, trading standards and so on in seven days if the money owed has not been received. You never know if may just provoke them into doing it as they usually won’t take the chance that you won’t do that nowadays.
Good luck! xx

Comment by Flighty — July 22, 2008 #

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flighty – That’s much as I had planned. My first action will be to name, tag and link. I just fail to understand how any company can allow 5 of it’s representatives to assure a customer, whilst referring to their account details ‘on screen’, that they are authorising a cheque and then to then not act on it.

Comment by midwifemuse — July 22, 2008 #

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Whilst I accept that mistakes happen, and problems occur, it’s the way that it’s dealt with so badly afterwards that really makes me fume. I suppose that authorising a cheque still has to dealt with by someone else, and probably not until at least after the end of the month.
Firms like this make such a big deal of customer service which in reality is so often non-existant.
I’m glad that it’s not me that has this problem as it would be doing my blood pressure no good at all.
Good luck, I hope that it gets resolved quickly and properly. xx

Comment by Flighty — July 23, 2008 #

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Since you are now heavily in credit, could you cancel the direct debit for a couple of months and inform them you will restart it when the credit has run out?

Comment by wildduck — July 23, 2008 #

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Was thinking along the lines of Wildduck. From past experience with this evil company, I wouldn’t cancel the direct debit, but speak to them and get them to ensure the credit covers the next few bills, and get confirmation in letter form. I’d dispense with emails as they don’t seem to work, but if you go for snail mail they do write back so at least you’ll have something on paper.
Good luck – you’re going to need it!

Comment by Vic — July 23, 2008 #

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My tale will make you smile. Bought a sofa and chair from a larger department store a number of years ago. When it arrived, it was the wrong colour, asked for an exchange, no can do. Got a refund and they were meant to pick it up the week after. Well, after 8 weeks of one call a week asking when they were going to pick it up, I gave up. I even threatened to leave it on the front lawn, to no avail. I therefore gained a £1500 suite for nowt.
Still didn’t like the colour though.
I always find if you ask for the name of the MD and then write to him personally, it tends to shake them up a bit. We are with V but have had no problems, you must be in the unlucky few thousand as I know they are meant to provide a pretty unreliable service.

Comment by Jessio — July 23, 2008 #

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Have they got any complaints procedure on the paper bill? Something like Offcom? I would do that as well, as these things take ages to take effect.
We’re also with Virgin and haven’t had any problems so far at least… Your previous posts about their shite service made us very careful when choosing them – making sure all was well before the engineer left…
best of luck, hope you’ll get the cheque soon!

Comment by Cartside — July 23, 2008 #

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Write, don’t email or ring. Unfortunately, they rely on the human instinct to want to get an instant response and to use the phone and then it’s basically your word against theirs (funny how the calls that are recorded ‘for training purposes’ are never the ones when they promise you the stars and the moon just to get you off the line). And as Jessio says, don’t hesitate to copy in the MD if you think it will help. A paper trail is so much harder to lose…

Comment by disgruntled — July 23, 2008 #

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Well. I spoke to them and they had to speak to the ‘payments department’. I requested that I be allowed to speak to the payments people, but Lauren told me that she had to so that she could tell them all about it. I questioned as to why they hadn’t computers in their department, apparently they have but I can’t speak directly to them! Lauren phoned me back and assured me that the cheque will be posted by special delivery and will be with us in 48 hours. I shall await the postman. They have until Saturday, then I lose the plot!

Comment by midwifemuse — July 23, 2008 #

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